Capo at 2nd Fret  (Takes place of E,A, B7) 
                                           
(D)Country music singers have always been a (G)real close family   
But(A7) lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and(G) me  
I guess it's because I kinda(D) changed my direction 
Lord,(A7)I guess I went and broke their family (G)tradition 
 
C H O R U S 
 
(They get on me, wanna know: "Hank..") 
(G)Why do you drink? Hank(D)Why do you roll smoke? 
(A7)Why must you live out the songs that you(G) wrote? 
Over and over - everybody(D)made my prediction 
(A7)so if I get stoned, I'm just carryin' on an old family (G)tradition. 
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(G)I am very proud of my daddy's(D) name 
(A7)Although his kind of music and mine ain't exactly the(G) same 
Stop and think it over - A put yourself in my position 
(A7)If I get stoned and sing all night long it's a family (G)tradition 
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CHORUS 2 
(Don't ask me: "Hank...") 
(G)Why do you drink? Hank(D)Why do you roll smoke? 
(A7)Why must you live out the songs that you(G) wrote? 
If I'm down in a honky tonk, some ol(D) slick's tryin' to gimme friction 
I says(A7) "Leave me alone, I'm singin' all night long  it's a family (G)tradition" 
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Lead SOLO 
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(G)Lordy, I have loved some ladies, and I have loved(D) Jim Bean 
(A7)They both tried to kill me in nineteen seventy-(G)three 
When that doctor asked me "Son, how'dja get in this(D) condition?" 
I says(A7) "Hey Sawbones, I'm just a-carryin' on the old family (G)tradition." 
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CHORUS 3 
(So don't ask me: "Hank...") 
(G)Why do you drink? Hank(D)Why do you roll smoke? 
(A7)Why must you live out the songs that you(G) wrote? 
Stop and think it over - try to put yourself in my unique(D)position 
(A7)If I get stoned and sing all night long, it's a family (G)tradition.